D.S. What is the longest time you spent on one dog?

I spent a good couple of months working on recall with my yongest, Sophie. She was young, excitable, and energetic - and very smart. She understood what was asked of her, but it took awhile to get her in the mindset to pay attention and not let her mind wander. It's funny, it was mainly an issue in our yard. In the house, she was great. In the pasture (an area of greater distractions) she was perfect - possibly because of all the different and potentially dangerous smells out there she trusted our judgement and didn't want to stray too far away.

When it comes to resource guarding, I start with pups and don't let them do it - period. However, when I take something away I usually add something better or give something else that the dog likes. So if I were to take the food dish away, I'd add in a treat and then set it back down. If I take away a toy the dog really likes but shouldn't have, I replace with an appropriate toy that they enjoy or a little piece of cracker or something. But should it ever be an issue I make it very clear that the behavior won't be allowed. Never had an issue.

The longest time? Four years, with my ACD.

In four years time, I went from human biting, fear aggressive, no impulse control dog, to almost ready for a CGC certification. My dog can heel, do rally maneuvers, has excellent impulse control and recall, doesn't chase kids, cars, bikes or skateboards, and I am proud to take her out in public. She is awesome, and people notice how well behaved she is. She never takes her eyes off me when we are together.

I am not saying that training works on all messed up dogs, but this was a huge victory for me, taking a dog from potential euthanization to a well trained animal.

We started with a year of counter conditioning to fear triggers. After that we started with basic obedience training. From there we went to scent work training to build confidence, and to rally training to sharpen execution of commands. After that we did some trick training and free shaping some cool behaviors, like a few herding commands and putting all her toys in a basket, among other things.

And if I had used "Cesar's way" I would have had to euthanize......

The man is an idiot.

I am also not a fan of taking food away once put down. It can cause food aggression, since the dog never knows when the food will be yanked away, and will eventually be conditioned to defend the food.

Perhaps that is what the owners of Holly did.

I've never had any trouble teaching the basic commands. I've also been fortunate to not have any trouble training my dogs for agility either.

However, the exercise that I've had most trouble with, is the Go Out exercise in Utility level obedience. For those who have done Utility, you know that once you fix 1 thing, another falls apart.

I personally don't think breed had anything to do with it. My first dog that I titled in Utility was a beagle mix, many many years ago. I was currently training my Wire Dachshund in Utility, we were in the proofing stages and we had just started competing (I'm using passed tense, because this particular dog died yesterday morning).

Both of these dogs were very smart, learned quickly and were very biddable. Once I'm done with my knee replacement surgery, I'll be showing my female in Open level obedience. For her, the hardest exercise is the stay, she will stay, but gets concerned when she's put between 2 large dogs.

I'm very fortunate that the dogs that I have been lucky to own, have all been forgiving dogs. So if there was a training issue, I will take the blame for myself, for not communicating clearly.

I have been very lucky and have not owned a dog with any aggression or major training issues. My mom worked with a trainer when we got our German Shepherd and what she learned she taught me. We always handled the dogs food, bones and toys often taking it from them. I would say that the hardest thing I had to deal with was working with my current dog and her barking at the door when someone knocks. She did not like to stop barking.

That is where I did use one of Cesar Millan's techniques. I found that backing her away from the door, without words, and telling people to use the no touch, no talk, no eye contact worked after a couple of weeks. She now barks but stops when I give a command.

You must start when the pup is young or they will become dominant and start resource guarding.

So far it's been 1 year and 2 months since I started working with Rigby's submissive urination.

In all reality, I doubt it will ever be 100% fully resolved. But for now it's livable. Haven't had to clean the floor because of her in months now.

Another issue that came with her was food aggression. NEVER with humans, but she could not sit next to another dog when there was food around without there being an issue. Took about 2 months for her to be 90% reliable. She now performs in an obedience drill which involves her working for food in close quarters with dogs she's not totally familiar with.

She came to me as a stray, extremely emaciated, and fearful of just about everything. Less to do with breed, age, genes, intelligence, and more to do with unknowns.

When I have a dog, unless something goes seriously wrong as was the case with a couple I had to rehome, one a buy in who stirred up the whole pack, the other one we'd kept back from a litter who at 2 started challenging his uncle, they stay - for life and they behave. I'd take mine to Ringcraft classes before going into the ring, usually for just a few times so they get used to that sort of atmosphere.

Secondly forget CM and his methods. And I am totally against all this idea about taking a food bowl away from a dog. Once down it stays down - and in fact if you start doing this picking it up stuff, that will make the dog more inclined to resource (food) guard than not. By all means make the dog wait for the bowl to be put down, but once down, fgs. leave the poor animal to eat in peace.

ps I've not see the programme you mention because I hardly ever watch his shows - and if I do, it's purely for entertainment, until I see something he does that makes me switch off.

I spent 8 months house training my beagle. Beagles are very stubborn dogs. I never gave up and I stuck with it because I was not going to give him away. I was aware when I got him that beagles are stubborn and can be hard to train. So 8 months of house training has finally paid off!

I spent 8 months house training my beagle. Beagles are very stubborn dogs. I never gave up and I stuck with it because I was not going to give him away. I was aware when I got him that beagles are stubborn and can be hard to train. So 8 months of house training has finally paid off!